Stop Brazilian beef imports, says ex-MEP

Policymakers in Brussels should oppose beef imports as part of the Mercosur trade deal, a former European parliament member has said.

Jim Nicholson said the recent expose by the Irish Farmers Journal into antibiotic usage and livestock traceability in Brazil shows production standards have not improved in the past 20 years.

ADVERTISEMENT

Back in 2008, the former Ulster Unionist politician played a prominent role in getting a ban on Brazilian beef imports introduced in the EU.

“I would be extremely surprised if the Brazilian government has made any progress in implementing or improving their medicine or tagging control,” Nicholson said.

“I do not believe Brazil can ever come close to matching the standards demanded or required by European or UK farmers. Sometimes red tape can work in your favour,” he added.

Budget of £600,000 for AFBI data breach

DAERA has requested funding worth £600,000 from the Department of Finance following the recent data breach at the Agri Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).

In October 2025, it emerged that up to 290 farmers had their personal information released in error by AFBI as part of a response to a freedom of information request.

At Stormont last week, Roger Downey from DAERA said £600,000 of “resource budget cover” has been sought for “a potential technical accounting adjustment” due to the AFBI data breach.

“The accounting treatment of these issues will be considered at the year end and at this stage there is no commitment to disperse these or any other amounts,” he said.

Coyote tops latest PLI rankings

DeNovo Coyote P has topped the latest ranking of young Holstein sires in the UK with a Profitable Lifetime Index (PLI) of £871.

The UK-bred bull is a new entry in the genomic rankings and comes from the breeding nucleus within the DeNovo programme, operated by Genus ABS.

Close behind in second position with a PLI of £870 is the Sheepster son, Badger Siemers Day Trip. In third place is another Sheepster son, Progenesis Preston, with a PLI of £867.

OCD Trooper Sheepster remains top of the proven Holstein sire rankings on a PLI of £783.